Mukuru slums
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use Kenyan English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Mukuru
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| settlement_type = Informal settlement
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File:Mukuru Sanitation Situation (5507763804).jpg
| image_caption = A street in Mukuru
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| pushpin_map = Kenya
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Mukuru in Kenya
| coordinates = {{coord|1|19|6|S|36|52|21|E|region:KE|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Kenya
| subdivision_type1 = County
| subdivision_name1 = Nairobi City
| subdivision_type2 = Sub-county
| subdivision_name2 = Embakasi and Starehe
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Mukuru is a collection of slums in the city of Nairobi. It is approximately {{convert|7|km}} south of the central business district of Nairobi. It is one of the largest slums in Nairobi. It stretches along the Nairobi–Ngong River, situated on waste lands in the industrial area of the city between the Outering Ring Road, North Airport Road and Mombasa Road. Mukuru is among other major slums in Nairobi such: Korogocho, Kibera and Mathare.
Mukuru comprises the Mukuru kwa Reuben, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Viwandani, Mariguini, Fuata Nyayo and Kayaba villages.
Overview
File:Status of Paid Toilets in Mukuru (5507764586).jpg
Located approximately {{convert|7|km}} south of the Nairobi CBD, Mukuru slums are predominantly a low-income informal settlement. It consists of approximately thirty villages: Kwa Njenga, Kwa Ruben, Mariguini, Fuata Nyayo and Kayaba. The area sits south of the Viwandani and Industrial Area. The area earliest inhabitants were labourers from the nearby Industrial Area factories who made makeshifts mainly made by corrugated iron shacks. Some of the area that Mukuru slums sits on was initially a quarry that was exploited and was never rehabilitated.{{Cite web |title=Mukuru: The Situation |url=https://www.rubencentre.org/mukuru-the-situation-our-response |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Ruben Centre |language=en-US}}
Mukuru slums as any other slum in the world has been faced by challenges including crime, drug abuse, prostitution.{{Cite news |date=2015-11-25 |title=Tales of crime and struggle in Nairobi's bustling slums |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-kenya-crime-widerimage-idUKKBN0TE1H920151125 |access-date=2022-11-30}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title=Police arrest 37 suspects in two-day security operation in Mukuru slums |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/nairobi/police-arrest-37-suspects-in-two-day-security-operation-in-mukuru-slums-3997286 |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Nation |language=en}} In the slums, whole families survive in tiny one-roomed corrugated iron shacks. Very few homes have access to electricity and up to twenty families might share a communal water tap and latrine.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-15 |title=The family without a toilet: Our 'hell hole' in Mukuru kwa Njenga slums |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/health/the-family-without-a-toilet-our-hell-hole-in-mukuru-kwa-njenga-slums-4019584 |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Nation |language=en}}
The area is considered unsafe due to the air pollution caused by incineration of varied waste, as well as the stench from the unauthorised landfills in the slums.{{Cite web |last=Saya |first=Magdaline |title=Nairobi slums record high household air pollution — study |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2022-11-25-nairobi-slums-record-high-household-air-pollution-study/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}{{Cite web |last1=Bowyer |first1=Cressida |last2=Price |first2=Heather |title=Using art to tackle air pollution: a story from a Nairobi slum |url=http://theconversation.com/using-art-to-tackle-air-pollution-a-story-from-a-nairobi-slum-111212 |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=The Conversation |date=4 March 2019 |language=en}} Fires are also common and containing them has always been a subject of debate; mainly because the makeshifts are built close to one another and their narrow or no alleys between them.{{Cite thesis |title=Factors that influence the increase in fire incidences in informal settlements: a case of Mukuru kwa Njenga slum in Nairobi |url=http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/7106 |publisher=University of Nairobi, Kenya |date=2012 |degree=Thesis |language=en-US |first=Judy J. |last=Limo}}{{Cite journal |title=Mukuru-Sinai fuel spill and fire disaster |url=https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/Mukuru%20Sinai%20Presentation%20for%20the%20AGEE%20conference%20Geneva.pdf |journal=Humanitarian Resource}}
The slums have a high prevalence of respiratory diseases, Malaria, HIV AIDS and waterborne diseases. The slums were earmarked areas more at risk in the spread of the COVID-19.{{Cite web |title=An oasis of hope for people affected by HIV in Mukuru - Kenya {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/kenya/oasis-hope-people-affected-hiv-mukuru |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=reliefweb.int |date=8 July 2013 |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Saunders |first=Doug |date=2020-12-03 |title=Opinion: Huge slums are at the heart of the pandemic – but not for the reasons you might expect |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-huge-slums-are-at-the-heart-of-the-pandemic-but-not-for-the-reasons/ |access-date=2022-11-30}}
In 2017, among other slum areas in Nairobi, Mukuru was declared a Special Planning Area. Slum upgrading, initiated by the government, is an effort to provide better housing to the slum residents.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-12 |title=Community-led upgrade to a Nairobi slum could be a model for Africa |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/nov/12/mukuru-kenya-community-led-upgrade-nairobi-slum-could-be-model-for-africa |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} Known as the Mukuru Affordable Housing, will be actualised on a 55-acre land with 15,000 housing units.{{Cite web |last=December 29 2021 |first=Wednesday |date=2021-12-29 |title=State starts building 15,000 houses in Mukuru slums |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/news/counties/state-starts-building-15-000-houses-in-mukuru-slums-3666054 |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Business Daily |language=en}} Simplified sewer system is set to tackle the decades-long problem of open sewers.{{Cite web |last=Dodman |first=David |title=A special approach to slum upgrading: the Special Planning Area in Mukuru, Nairobi |url=https://www.iied.org/special-approach-slum-upgrading-special-planning-area-mukuru-nairobi |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=International Institute for Environment and Development |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Mukuru SPA |url=https://www.muungano.net/mukuru-spa |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=Muungano wa Wanavijiji |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Mukuru Special Planning Area (SPA) Community Mobilisation |url=https://icscentre.org/innovationreport/2020/portfolio-item/mukuru-special-planning-area-spa-community-mobilisation/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |language=}}{{Cite web |last=Koech |first=Gilbert |title=Simplified sewer system to improve sanitation in Mukuru slums |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-11-20-simplified-sewer-system-to-improve-sanitation-in-mukuru-slums/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}
Notable people
Charlot Magayi and her daughter lived here. She is CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves{{Cite web |title=Charlot Magayi |url=https://fellows.echoinggreen.org/fellow/charlot-magayi/ |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=Echoing Green Fellows Directory |language=en-US}} and a winner of the 2022 Earthshot Prize.{{Cite web |last=Mwangi |first=Denis |date=2022-12-03 |title=Prince William awards Sh150M to 29-year-old Charlot Magayi |url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/local/29-year-old-charlot-magayi-wins-sh150-million-after-winning-2022-earthshot-prize/rvxkmlx |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=Pulselive Kenya |language=en}}